Chapter 73: Poppy

Book Two: Shameless

"Would you mind getting the door?" Anne asks, grabbing an oversized platter piled high with thick wedges of watermelon.

I pad to the slider that leads to the patio and yank it open. Dad is already outside, manning the grill. Even though it's early in the afternoon, there are already fifty people in attendance for the annual Claremont Cougars barbeque that will officially kick off the season.

Unconsciously, I scan the yard. The pool is packed with shirtless guys. Since they train all year round, most are in excellent shape. It's certainly no hardship to stare at them. I should be basking in man candy heaven.

Instead, my attention is continually snagged by the brooding man standing with a small group of coaches. He's barely glanced my way since arriving an hour ago.

It's been just about a week since the incident at his garage.

He slinks into Psychology before the start of class and hightails it out the moment our professor wraps up his lecture. After the disas